REMEMBERING BOYLE HEIGHTS by Stan Mazin, Guest Reviewer

“Remembering Boyle Heights” is a World Premiere, Created and Devised by Josefina Lopez, Corky Dominguez & The Remembering Boyle Heights Ensemble.  It was Directed by Corky Dominguez, with an ensemble consisting of Michael Berckart, Joe Luis Cedilla, Jose Alejandro HernandezJr., Yvette Karla Herrara, Angel Michel Juarez, Megumi Kabe, Marcel Libera, Jackie Marriott, Roberta H. Martinez, Allyson Taylor, and last but not least Raymond Watanga.  Each and every member of this ensemble gets a chance to shine playing varied different characters in this 90 minute without intermission event.  I call it an event as it is more so than a standard play. The evening begins in the lobby with Angel Juarez singing and dancing, quite sensually I must add, followed by Yvette Karla Herrera doing a monologue about what it was like to have to live in this area when they began raising the rents upon the people in Boyle Heights when it began changing, followed by Joe Luis Cedillo’s monologue about the Mariachi’s of Boyle Heights.  Then the audience enters the theatre where a ‘town hall meeting’ is already in progress, by the ensemble all of whom are wearing masks to show the commonality of the problems they are all complaining about.  Quite an interesting beginning to any show.  As the evening progresses, each of the players get opportunities to shine.  Whenever someone speaks of a happening, the action is enhanced from time to time by the use of a live camera that shows the speakers as their image is projected over three areas of the walls of the stage on what seems to be old photos of the old Boyle Heights. Another enhancement is the use of the ensemble’s freezes… or frescos, during which everyone remains completely still.  I defy you to find a moving or shaking character during these times.  All the information inspired by the memories, stories  and experiences are no doubt true facts about the developing changes that occurred to the community from the late 1800;s to just after WWII in the 40’s.  Although at times the information seems slightly overwhelming, the play progresses at a rapid pace never letting down or getting boring for a second.  Kudos to all concerned with this huge endeavor.  As for the production team, the Producer is the Co-writer Josefina Lopez, the Executive Producer is Emmanuel Deleage, Set Designer is Cesar Retana-Holguin, Light Designer is Kevin Eduardo Vasquez, Projection Designer is Masha Tatarintsev, Costume Designer is Abel Alvarado, while the Sound Designer and Production Stage Manager is Xavi Casanova, Technical Director is Vincent A. Sanchez, Stage Manager is Georgina Rios Escobar, Assistant to the Director is Andrew Ortega,  with Wardrobe Assistant, Ashley Montoya and Production Consultant, Shmuel Gonzales.  Public Relations is by Steve Moyer, Photographer for production stills is Ed Krieger,  with Casting Director Edward Padilla and Graphics Designer, Soap Studio Inc.  I was educated in learning that the history of Boyle Heights included other ethnic groups besides the expected Latino community, such as the Jewish people, the Filipinos, and Afro Americans for example.  And some of the universal problems that the community has had to deal with are still prevalent today.

 

The show plays at Casa 0101 Theater, 2102 East 1st Street in Boyle Heights through December 16th.  For Reservations for this ‘recommended for all audiences’ show, call Theatre Box Office at 323-263-7684, E-mail tickets@casa0101.org, or buy online at www.casa0101.org.  The show runs 90 minutes with no intermission.  And while there please don’t miss the Boyle Heights Museum, Royal’s ‘A Multi-Racial Catalyst for Democracy’, running through February 24th.